Modifiable garment with adhesive seam

ABSTRACT

Garments come in different clothing styles. An apparatus is disclosed including a modifiable wearable garment. The garment includes a plurality of garment portions and an adhesive seam joining the garment portions. At least one of the garment portions can be removed and replaced with a second similar garment portion. According to one embodiment, the modifiable garment exhibits different styles based upon which garment portions are attached to the garment.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This disclosure claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/929,968, filed on Jan. 21, 2014, which is hereby incorporated byreference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to wearable garments. Inparticular, examples of the present disclosure are related to amodifiable garment which is designed and constructed to allow forattachment and detachment of various specially designed and constructedcomponents for the comfort and protection of the user.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background informationrelated to the present disclosure. Accordingly, such statements are notintended to constitute an admission of prior art.

People wear clothing to protect themselves from environmental elementsand to help them regulate their body temperature, among other reasons.In addition, clothing serves as an ornamental, decorative or signifyingaspect of human culture, and different types of clothing can be viewedby different cultural groups as appropriate or inappropriate in varioussocial settings.

Typically, one adds, changes or removes articles of clothing to navigatebetween different environmental or social settings. For example, duringthe winter, one typically removes one's coat after entering a heatedbuilding to avoid overheating. Similarly, one would not typically wearthe same clothing to a cocktail party as one would wear to a baseballgame, due to the differing levels of formality and the differing socialnorms and expectations of each setting.

SUMMARY

Garments come in different clothing styles. An apparatus is disclosedincluding a modifiable wearable garment. The garment includes aplurality of garment portions and an adhesive seam joining the garmentportions. At least one of the garment portions can be removed andreplaced with a second similar garment portion. According to oneembodiment, the modifiable garment exhibits different styles based uponwhich garment portions are attached to the garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments will now be described, by way of example, withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a modifiable garmentemploying a modification system and a set of accompanying accessoryitems, in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates an additional exemplary embodiment of a modifiablegarment employing a modification system, the system including aplurality of decorative accoutrements, in accordance with the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an additional exemplary embodiment of amodifiable garment employing a modification system, the system includinga modifiable dress including interchangeable top and lower portions, inaccordance with the present disclosure;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an additional exemplary embodiment of amodifiable garment employing a modification system, in accordance withthe present disclosure;

FIG. 4A illustrates an exemplary trench coat including interchangeablesleeve sections, upper portion, and lower portion; and

FIG. 4B illustrates the trench coat of FIG. 4A, where adhesive seamsjoining the sleeve sections, upper portion, and lower portion are hiddenby concealing flaps; and

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating alternative exemplary adhesive seamsthat can be utilized in a modifiable garment, in accordance with thepresent disclosure.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding componentsthroughout the several views of the drawings. Skilled artisans willappreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicityand clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example,the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggeratedrelative to other elements to help to improve understanding of variousembodiments of the present disclosure. Also, common but well-understoodelements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasibleembodiment are often not illustrated in order to facilitate a lessobstructed view of these various embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. Itwill be apparent, however, to one having ordinary skill in the art thatthe specific detail need not be employed to practice the presentdisclosure. In other instances, well-known materials or methods have notbeen described in detail in order to avoid obscuring the presentdisclosure.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “anembodiment”, “one example” or “an example” means that a particularfeature, structure or characteristic described in connection with theembodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in oneembodiment”, “in an embodiment”, “one example” or “an example” invarious places throughout this specification are not necessarily allreferring to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particularfeatures, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitablecombinations and/or sub-combinations in one or more embodiments orexamples. In addition, it is appreciated that the figures providedherewith are for explanation purposes to persons ordinarily skilled inthe art and that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure may be embodied asan apparatus or process.

People utilize clothing for many reasons, including to protectthemselves against environmental elements, to present themselves in anappropriate manner for various social situations and to communicatesomething about themselves to others. Typically, one may have to remove,add or change articles of clothing to navigate between differentenvironmental and social contexts in which the clothing is worn.

A modifiable garment is disclosed, wherein components of the modifiablegarment are designed and constructed such that they allow for the hiddenplacement of fastening hardware with which a user may attach or detachcertain components of the modifiable garment. This attachment systemallows for the modifiable garment to be adapted for use in variousenvironments and circumstances. For example, in higher environmentaltemperatures, or at a user's preference, various detachable componentsof the modifiable garment could be removed. In lower environmentaltemperatures, or at a user's preference, various detached components ofthe modifiable garment could be reattached to the body of the modifiablegarment by means of the hidden fastening hardware.

In addition, the modifiable garment employing the modification systemallows for many options for the visual appearance of the garment, whichcan increase the number of social and environmental settings in whichthe modifiable garment may be worn. The number of functional ways inwhich such a garment could be worn by a user depends on how manycomponents of the modifiable garment can be detached or attached bymeans of the hidden fastening hardware, and how many additionalattachable and detachable components can be integrated into the designof the modifiable garment.

Attachable and detachable components of such a modifiable garment caninclude, for example, sleeves, collars, skirts and tops.

Detachable components of the modifiable garment can themselves consistof more than one detachable piece. For example, a detachable sleeve of amodifiable garment may itself be modifiable, and such a detachablesleeve could possess a detachable cuff. In another example, a detachablefoldover collar of a modifiable garment may itself be modifiable, andsuch a detachable foldover collar could possess a detachable portionwhich, when detached, creates a stand-up collar.

Such a modifiable garment employing the garment modification system maybe constructed of, for example, wool, cotton, silk, sateen, nylon,twill, tweed, leather, or a blend of one or more of these and othermaterials. Various components, such as, for example, sleeves, collars,skirts and tops, of such a modifiable garment can be manufacturedseparately piece-wise of materials that may not be the same as thematerial of which other components or portions of such a modifiablegarment employing the garment modification system are composed.

It is envisioned that a user could mix and match different componentsmade of different materials to create new garments. For example, amodifiable jacket-type garment could consist of leather sleevecomponents attached by means of hidden fastening hardware to a woolblazer component. In another example, a modifiable dress-type garmentcould consist of a silk top or upper component attached by means ofhidden fastening hardware to a wool skirt component.

Further, it is envisioned that a user could use various components ofsuch a modifiable garment system to create visual versatility. A usercould interchange various types of detachable garment components forfunctionality or for decorative, ornamental or communicative purposes.For example, a top component of a modifiable dress-type garment could bedesigned and constructed to receive attachable sleeves attached byhidden fastening hardware. Such attachable sleeve components could becap sleeve, short sleeve, elbow-length sleeve, bracelet-length sleeve,long sleeve or another type or design of sleeve. In another example, atop component of a modifiable dress-type garment could be constructed toreceive an attachable skirt component attached by hidden fasteninghardware. Such an attachable skirt component could be constructed invarious different shapes and lengths, and contains various differentdecorative or other elements. A number of garment portions are disclosedherein as upper portions, lower portions, sleeve sections. collarsections, etc. All possible interchangeable pieces of a modifiablegarment are intended to be treated as a garment portion in accordancewith the disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a modifiable garmentemploying a modification system and a set of accompanying accessoryitems. A blouse 100 is illustrated including an interchangeable set ofsleeve sections 120, 130, and 140. Each of sleeve sections 120, 130, and140 include adhesive seam portion 110 configured to attach to matingadhesive seam portion 112 located upon blouse 100. One of the adhesiveseam portions 110 and mating adhesive seam portion 112 together form anadhesive seam affixing one of the sleeve sections to blouse 100 to forman assembled modifiable garment. An additional sleeve section matchingthe selected sleeve section would similarly be assembled to the otherside of blouse 100.

Any number of decorative patterns or alternative fashion choices couldbe supported by a modifiable garment. Sleeve sections with threedifferent colors could be supplied to accompany blouse 100. Alternativefashion choices could be embodied in each of the sleeve sections.Different lengths, cuts, fabric materials, or surface textures could beembodied in the sleeves. One could subscribe to an updating fashionservice, and new sleeve sections or new blouses could be supplied yearlyor seasonally, such that the wearer could constantly have a modifiablegarment with the latest trending fashions.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, each of sleeve sections 120, 130,and 140 are illustrated including a corresponding accessory embodied asa matching handbag 122, 132, and 142, respectively. The sleeve sectionsand handbags can be sold as a set pair. In another embodiment, thesleeve sections could be sold to correspond to a popular handbag soldseparately. Other matching accessories could include jewelry, hats,hairbands, pet carriers, shoes, skirts, or any other known accessoryitem. In one embodiment, the sleeves can display the name or trademarkof the handbag which it is configured to match.

FIG. 2 illustrates an additional exemplary embodiment of a modifiablegarment employing a modification system, the system including aplurality of decorative accoutrements. Modifiable garment 200 includesblouse 210 and interchangeable decorative accoutrement sections 220 and230, either of which can be selectable attached to blouse 210. Blouse210 includes adhesive seam portion 212, and each of accoutrementsections 220 and 230 include adhesive seam portions 214, such thatportion 212 and one of the portions 214 can be selectably joined toattach the respective accoutrement section to blouse 210. While oneblouse and several accoutrement sections are illustrated, one canappreciate that a plurality of blouses can be supplied with a singleaccoutrement section or with a plurality of accoutrement sections. Inone exemplary embodiment, blouse 210 can have been sold in a first yearwith accoutrement section 220, and the wearer could acquire an updatedaccoutrement section 230 in a subsequent year to match updated fashiontrends. Accoutrement sections 220 and 230 are illustrated as lapelsections, although accoutrement sections can include any of a number ofdecorative clothing structures including but not limited to collars,ruffles, pockets, cuffs, waistline sections, lace decorations, or anyother clothing feature known in the art.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an additional exemplary embodiment of amodifiable garment employing a modification system, the system includinga modifiable dress including interchangeable top and lower portions.FIG. 3A illustrates modifiable dress 300. Modifiable dress 300 isillustrated including upper portion 310 and lower portion 320. Upperportion 310 and lower portion 320 are interchangeable with other upperportions and lower portions, such that modifiable dress 300 may includeany of a number of colors and fashions for the various possible top andlower portions. In this way, a wearer may have a favorite upper portionthat she likes to wear with different lower portions, depending upon theoccasion, or vice versa. Modifiable dress 300 is illustrated withadhesive seam portion 332 joining upper portion 310 and lower portion320 around a waist line of dress 300. Additionally, access adhesive seamportions 334 and 336 permit a wearer to dress or remove the upperportion 310 and lower portion 320, respectively.

FIG. 3B illustrates one exemplary structure for adhesive seam portions332, 334, and 336 to be formed upon modifiable dress 300. Exemplaryzipper devices are illustrated as the attachment mechanisms for theadhesive seam portions. By having all three zipper devices of adhesiveseam portions 332, 334, and 336 join at a common point on the dress, thevisibility of the zippers and associated terminal end hardware can belimited to a particular spot on the dress. While the zipper devices ofadhesive seam portions 332, 334, and 336 are illustrated as visible inFIGS. 3A and 3B, the zippers can be easily hidden from view by flaps, abelt, ruffles, or other methods or structures known in the art. In oneembodiment, decorative attachments, such as elaborate buttons andembroidered button holes, can be used to permit the adhesive seam to bepresented in plain sight without being hidden.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an additional exemplary embodiment of amodifiable garment employing a modification system. FIG. 4A illustratesan exemplary trench coat including interchangeable sleeve sections,upper portion, and lower portion. Trench coat 400 is illustratedincluding upper portion 410, two sleeve sections 412 and 414, and alower portion 416. Sleeve sections 412 and 414 include adhesive seamportions 422 which attach to mating adhesive seam portions 420 uponupper portion 410. Similarly, lower portion 416 includes adhesive seamportion 426 which attaches to mating adhesive seam portion 424 uponupper portion 410. FIG. 4B illustrates the trench coat of FIG. 4A, whereadhesive seams joining the sleeve sections, upper portion, and lowerportion are hidden by concealing flaps. Trench coat 400 is illustratedincluding upper portion 410, two sleeve sections 412 and 414, and alower portion 416. Seam portions 420, 422, 424, and 426, illustrated inFIG. 4A, are not visible in FIG. 4B. Collar portion 405 is illustratesas unitary with upper portion 410, although collar portion 405 couldsimilarly be selectably attached to upper portion 410 with a similaradhesive seam.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating alternative exemplary adhesive seamsthat can be utilized in a modifiable garment. Blouse 500 is illustratedwith an adhesive seam portion 510. Various exemplary attachmentmechanisms 520, 522, 524, 526, and 528 are illustrated for alternativeuse along adhesive seam portion 510, with a mating attachment mechanismlocated along a corresponding adhesive seam portion of an attachingsleeve section. Attachment mechanism 520 is illustrated as a localfastening device, for example, including a button, a metal snap feature,or a plastic snap feature. Attachment mechanism 522 is illustrated as anexemplary hook and loop (i.e. Velcro®) fastener. Attachment mechanism524 is illustrated as an exemplary magnetic feature fastener. Attachmentmechanism 526 is illustrated as an exemplary hook and eye attachmentdevice.

Attachment mechanism 528 is illustrated as an exemplary zipper device. Acommon zipper device known in the art can be used with mechanism 528. Inanother embodiment, an “invisible zipper” device known in the art can beused with mechanism 528. Such an invisible zipper configurations aredisclosed in application EU 20080877251 and alternatively in EP1,074,196 A1 and EP 1,074,196 B1 which are hereby incorporated byreference.

The attachment mechanisms provided are meant as non-limiting examples ofattachment mechanisms that can be used with the modifiable garments andthe corresponding adhesive seams disclosed herein. These examples areprovided for illustration, but a number of alternative attachmentmechanisms are additionally or alternatively envisioned, and thedisclosure is not intended to be limited to the particular examplesprovided herein.

According to one embodiment of the disclosure, an apparatus including amodifiable wearable garment is provided. The garment includes aplurality of interchangeable garment portions including at least oneduplicate set of garment portions, the duplicate set fitted to a samearea of the garment and each of the garment portions of the duplicateset having a different clothing style. The garment further includes anadhesive seam joining the garment portions. The garment portions of theduplicate set can each be removed and replaced with another garmentportion of the duplicate set.

The disclosure has described certain preferred embodiments andmodifications of those embodiments. Further modifications andalterations may occur to others upon reading and understanding thespecification. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not belimited to the particular embodiment(s) disclosed as the best modecontemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosurewill include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. An apparatus comprising a modifiable wearable garment, the garmentcomprising: a plurality of garment portions; and an adhesive seamjoining the garment portions; wherein at least one of the garmentportions can be removed and replaced with a second similar garmentportion.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the garmentportions comprises a sleeve portion that can be removed and replacedwith a second sleeve portion.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein eachof the sleeve portions corresponds to a matching accessory item.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 3, wherein the matching accessory item comprises ahandbag.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the matching accessoryitem comprises one of a piece of jewelry, a hat, a hair-band, a petcarrier, a pair of shoes, and a skirt.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein one of the garment portions comprises an accoutrement sectionthat can be removed and replaced with a second accoutrement portion. 7.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the modifiable garment comprises amodifiable dress.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the plurality ofgarment portions comprise an upper portion and a lower portion; andwherein the adhesive seam is located around a waistline of the dress. 9.The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the adhesive seam comprises a zipperdevice.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: an accessadhesive seam on the back of the upper portion; and an access adhesiveseam on the back of the lower portion; wherein the hardware terminalends of the zipper devices of the adhesive seam around the waistline andthe two access adhesive seams are located at a single point on the backof the dress.
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the modifiablegarment comprises a trench coat.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, whereinthe trench coat comprises an interchangeable upper portion, aninterchangeable lower portion, and interchangeable sleeve sections. 13.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adhesive seam comprises aninvisible zipper.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adhesiveseam comprises an attachment mechanism selected from a button, ametallic snap, a plastic snap, Velcro®, magnetic sections, hook and eyedevices, and a zipper device.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theadhesive seam is located between a sleeve section and a blouse portionof the modifiable garment.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theadhesive seam is located between an upper portion and a lower portion ofthe modifiable garment.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theadhesive seam is located between a blouse portion and an accoutrementsection of the modifiable garment.
 18. An apparatus comprising amodifiable wearable garment, the garment comprising: a plurality ofinterchangeable garment portions including at least one duplicate set ofgarment portions, the duplicate set fitted to a same area of the garmentand each of the garment portions of the duplicate set having a differentclothing style; and an adhesive seam joining the garment portions;wherein the garment portions of the duplicate set can each be removedand replaced with another garment portion of the duplicate set.